Juan Soto’s decision to sign with the Mets for a record-shattering deal wasn’t much of a surprise within baseball circles. The number was always going to be astronomical, and the Mets had deep pockets to make it happen.
What was surprising, though, was how the Yankees’ bid may have collapsed over refusal to give Soto a free luxury suite at Yankee Stadium.
According to the New York Post, Soto wanted the Yankees to provide his family with a suite for the duration of the contract. The Yankees — having already made Derek Jeter and Aaron Judge pay for their own suites in the past — didn’t want to ignore precedent and give Soto a multimillion-dollar perk. Instead, they offered Soto that suite at a discounted rate.
Mets owner Steve Cohen, on the other hand, was more than willing to give Soto a suite at Citi Field and got the deal done. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked about the suite saga, and he essentially said that a player making that much should be OK paying for his own suite.
Brian Cashman said he has “no regrets” with how the Juan Soto negotiations played out and doesn’t think the Yankees could have done anything differently. He also said that he does not believe Soto’s request for a suite, nor a reported issue with club security, played any part.…
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) December 11, 2024
Via MLB.com:
“Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them.”
Cashman also added that he had no regrets about how the Yankees handled their negotiations. And Yankees fans loved how Cashman implied that Soto could have afforded his own suite because, well, look at that contract.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
COOK HIM GOAT https://t.co/kXpmumMBX5 pic.twitter.com/lcvSzbjSuz
— Dom (@BronxBmbrz) December 11, 2024
COOK THAT SELLOUT https://t.co/qSc82Hwh6b pic.twitter.com/OVenyA9uOn
— Freddie🫡 (@YankeesSzn99) December 11, 2024
If you told me that the Yankees would lose Juan Soto and I wouldn’t be upset at Cashman or the front office at all, I would’ve laughed in your face but I think they did the right thing based on all the nonsense that’s come out about the negotiations so far https://t.co/EXoXKeYHbX
— Rambo Claus 🏹 (@chesportsguy) December 11, 2024
this isn’t a charity. u got offered 760, buy ur own suite. ur not jeter and ur not judge. what a ridiculous ask that only a baby organization would bend over to fulfill https://t.co/elp5vZDbGg
— Jason Clambino (@ny_mecca) December 11, 2024
HOLY COOK https://t.co/9UV7A7KdIi
— Blake Schroeder (@Yeetstar9999) December 11, 2024
If the Captain doesn't get a free suite, no one does. https://t.co/QaE5TW9NKq
— Jared Lewis (@TheJearBear28) December 11, 2024
